The hotel room was quiet except for the faint rustle of sheets and the soft hum of the air conditioner. Jungkook gently eased Taehyung onto the bed, his strong arms supporting the other's limp frame. Taehyung was far too intoxicated, his cheeks flushed a rosy pink, and his eyes heavy-lidded but glassy with unshed tears.
Jungkook let out a small sigh of relief when he finally laid Taehyung down, carefully removing his arm from around Taehyung's shoulders. He moved to stand, but a faint whine stopped him in his tracks.
"Let's hug," Taehyung murmured, his voice slurred but soft, the words almost childlike in their plea.
Before Jungkook could react, Taehyung's seemingly lifeless body sprang into motion. He sat up abruptly and wrapped his arms tightly around Jungkook's waist, pulling him close. The sudden movement caught Jungkook off guard, and he froze, his breath hitching as Taehyung buried his face against his torso.
"It feels so good," Taehyung mumbled into Jungkook's chest, his voice muffled but filled with an innocent warmth.
Jungkook's heart pounded against his ribcage, the proximity making his face heat up. He hesitated, his arms hovering awkwardly in the air. As much as he wanted to relish the momentâTaehyung's arms around him, the vulnerable honesty in his wordsâhe couldn't ignore the obvious.
Taehyung was drunk, his mind clouded by alcohol, and he likely wouldn't remember any of this by morning.
Jungkook swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to regain control of his spiraling thoughts. "Taehyung," he said softly, his voice gentle but firm. "Do you know who I am?"
The question slipped from Jungkook's lips clumsily, unfiltered, and the moment it left his mouth, he wished he could take it back. His nerves tangled into a knot, his throat dry as he struggled to gauge what Taehyung might say next.
Taehyung, still perched unsteadily on the edge of the bed, tilted his head back to meet Jungkook's gaze. His expression softened, and then, to Jungkook's surprise, he smiledâa small, cheeky grin that made Jungkook's heart skip a beat.
"Of course, I know," Taehyung replied, his voice lightly teasing but drenched in drunken sincerity.
Jungkook's breath hitched. "Then... who am I?" he asked, his voice quiet but tinged with curiosity and the faintest tremor of hope.
Taehyung's answer was immediate, accompanied by a giggle that broke into a hiccup. "You're my husband," he said, his voice sweet and matter-of-fact, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Jungkook froze. For a second, he questioned whether he had misheard, but the words replayed in his mind over and over, loud and clear. His wide eyes locked onto Taehyung, who, entirely unbothered by the effect his words had, leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Jungkook once again.
The embrace was warm, tight, and disarming. Jungkook felt his entire body stiffen, then flush with heat. His mind raced as he processed the words Taehyung had so casually uttered.
"What... what did you just say?" Jungkook stammered, gently pulling Taehyung back to create some distance, though his trembling hands betrayed his attempt to keep calm.
Taehyung pouted, clearly displeased with the sudden separation. He pointed a wobbly finger at Jungkook, his lips curling into a slight frown. "Jeon Jungkook," he said, his voice firm despite his inebriated state, "aren't you my husband?"
The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest. His face turned scarlet, heat rushing from his neck to the tips of his ears. He could feel the corners of his lips twitching, tryingâand failingâto suppress the smile that was determined to break through.
Taehyung, still sitting on the bed, tilted his head, his pout deepening as he awaited Jungkook's answer. Jungkook couldn't take his eyes off him, even as he felt his composure unraveling.
With a soft laugh, Jungkook reached out and gently took Taehyung's hand, his thumb brushing lightly over Taehyung's knuckles. Then, with a resigned sigh, he sank to his knees on the floor, bringing himself level with Taehyung's gaze.
Maintaining eye contact, he said softly, "Yes, I am. Now... say that again."
Taehyung blinked at him, seemingly confused by Jungkook's request. But then, after a moment's hesitation, a mischievous glint lit up his eyes. He leaned forward slightly, their faces closer now, and whispered, "Husband."
The word sent a shiver down Jungkook's spine, and his resolve crumbled completely. He broke eye contact, dropping his gaze to the floor as he laughed quietly, his shoulders shaking slightly with the force of his suppressed emotions. He was already losing his sanity, and Taehyung's drunken boldness wasn't helping in the slightest.
Taehyung tilted his head, clearly unaware of the chaos he had unleashed in Jungkook's heart. He tugged gently at Jungkook's hand, trying to regain his attention. "Husband," he repeated, testing the word again like a child playing with a new toy.
Jungkook finally looked back up at him, his face still red, his smile soft but undeniable. "You're going to be the death of me, Your Highness," he muttered under his breath, the words a mix of exasperation and affection.
Taehyung giggled again, the sound light and carefree, completely at odds with the storm of emotions wreaking havoc inside Jungkook. As Taehyung leaned back against the bed, his smile wide and blissful, he seemed utterly unaware of the effect his words had on Jungkookâor perhaps he simply didn't care.
Taehyung tilted his head lazily, his eyes slightly glazed but sparkling with mischief. "Oh, right," he said suddenly, as if remembering something important. "I want to tell you a secret."
Jungkook straightened up slightly, his gaze softening as his lips curved into a small, fond smile. "A secret?" he asked, his voice gentle. "You can tell me."
Taehyung's lips pressed together in a mock pout as he shook his head vigorously. "No, no. Come closer," he insisted, gesturing with his hand. "Let's talk in secret. Don't let anyone else hear."
Jungkook hesitated for a moment, then leaned in, trying to mask the fluttering in his chest. As he closed the distance, Taehyung surprised him by resting his head against Jungkook's arm, his soft hair brushing against Jungkook's skin.
Taehyung's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I had a dream," he confessed, his breath warm against Jungkook's sleeve.
Jungkook blinked, his curiosity piqued. "A dream?" he echoed, his heart thudding as he waited for Taehyung to continue.
"In the dream," Taehyung murmured, his lips curling into a sleepy smile, "we were married."
Jungkook froze. The words hit him like a tidal wave, flooding his mind with a mixture of disbelief, confusion, and a pang of longing he couldn't quite suppress. His thoughts raced. We were married?
He glanced down at Taehyung, who was still leaning against him, blissfully unaware of the chaos he had unleashed. Taehyung's cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, his eyes half-lidded, his smile sweet and unguarded.
"Husband," Taehyung added with a playful giggle, before wrapping his arms around Jungkook in another hug, his warmth and weight pressing against Jungkook's chest.
Jungkook's hands hovered awkwardly in the air for a moment, his internal struggle evident. No, he's drunk and talking nonsense, he told himself, shaking his head slightly. I can't take advantage of him like this.
"Taehyung," Jungkook said softly, his voice steady but tinged with concern.
Taehyung hummed in response, his eyes fluttering open as he broke the hug to look up at Jungkook.
"You should come back to your senses," Jungkook said, his tone gentle but firm. "Let me tell you somethingâyou've got it all wrong. I'm not a good person."
Taehyung's expression shifted in an instant, his brows furrowing as he reached up suddenly, grabbing Jungkook's collar with surprising force. Jungkook, caught off guard, blinked in surprise as Taehyung pulled him closer, their faces mere inches apart.
"You're right," Taehyung declared, his voice slightly slurred but filled with determination. "You're not a good person at all. You're a bad person!"
Jungkook blinked again, utterly at a loss for words. "W-What?"
"You always bully me," Taehyung continued, his tone almost accusatory. "You pinch me. You tease me. You always make me cry!"
As if to punctuate his words, Taehyung began hitting Jungkook's chest with light, half-hearted smacks, his frustration palpable but endearingly harmless.
Jungkook quickly grabbed Taehyung's hands to stop him, his grip firm but gentle. "Do you even know what you're saying right now?" he asked, his voice laced with both amusement and exasperation.
"You've been bullying me," Taehyung insisted, his words slightly garbled but still clear enough to leave Jungkook momentarily speechless.
Before Jungkook could formulate a response, Taehyung suddenly stopped, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "But you know what?" he said, his tone shifting into something playful.
Jungkook stared at him warily, unsure of what was coming next. "What?" he asked hesitantly.
Taehyung leaned in closer, his smile widening. "Jungkookie," he said sweetly, his voice dripping with mock seriousness, "I want revenge now."